Multiple module computer system and method using differential signal channel including unidirectional, serial bit channels

Abstract

A computer system for multi-processing purposes. The computer system has a console comprising a first coupling site and a second coupling site. Each coupling site comprises a connector. The console is an enclosure that is capable of housing each coupling site. The system also has a plurality of computer modules, where each of the computer modules is coupled to a connector. Each of the computer modules has a processing unit, a main memory coupled to the processing unit, a graphics controller coupled to the processing unit, and a mass storage device coupled to the processing unit. Each of the computer modules is substantially similar in design to each other to provide independent processing of each of the computer modules in the computer system.

1. A computer system comprising:
 a console comprising a first coupling site and a second coupling site, each coupling site comprising a connector, the console being an enclosure housing the coupling sites,
 an Ethernet controller coupled to an external network, and 
 a low voltage differential signal channel (LVDS) comprises two sets of unidirectional, serial bit channels which transmit encoded PCI bus transaction data in opposite directions; 
 
 a computer module coupled to one of the coupling sites through the connector, comprising
 a processing unit, 
 a flash memory storage device coupled to the processing unit, and 
 a serial communication controller coupled to the connector of the coupling site for communication to the console; and 
 
 wherein the computer module comprises a computing environment for a personal user. 
 
     
     
       2. The computer system of  claim 1  wherein each of the unidirectional, serial bit channels comprises a plurality of pairs of low voltage differential signal lines. 
     
     
       3. The computer system of  claim 1  wherein the computer module communicates to the console through USB (Universal Serial Bus). 
     
     
       4. The computer system of  claim 1  wherein the flash memory storage device includes code to provide password protection for controlling access to the computer module. 
     
     
       5. The computer system of  claim 1  wherein the console further comprises a power supply that supplies power to the computer module. 
     
     
       6. A computer system comprising:
 a console comprising a power supply, a first coupling site and a second coupling site, each coupling site comprising a connector, the console being a first enclosure housing the coupling sites, the power supply and a low voltage differential signal channel (LVDS) comprises two sets of unidirectional, serial bit channels which transmit encoded PCI bus transaction data in opposite directions; 
 a computer module coupled to one of the coupling sites through the connector, comprising
 a second enclosure, 
 a processing unit, 
 a serial communication controller coupled to the connector of the coupling site for communication to the console, and 
 a flash memory storage device coupled to the processing unit; 
 
 wherein the power supply supplies power to the computer module. 
 
     
     
       7. The computer system of  claim 6  wherein the computer module communicates to the console through USB (Universal Serial Bus). 
     
     
       8. The computer system of  claim 6  wherein each of the unidirectional, serial bit channels comprises a plurality of pairs of low voltage differential signal lines. 
     
     
       9. The computer system of  claim 6  wherein the flash memory storage device is configurable to store a password for controlling access to the computer module. 
     
     
       10. The computer system of  claim 6  wherein the computer module further comprises a computing environment for a personal user. 
     
     
       11. A computer system comprising:
 a console comprising an integrated LCD display, a first coupling site and a second coupling site, each coupling site comprising a connector, the console being a first enclosure housing the coupling sites, and a low voltage differential signal channel (LVDS) comprises two sets of unidirectional, serial bit channels which transmit encoded PCI bus transaction data in opposite directions; 
 a computer module coupled to one of the coupling sites through the connector, comprising
 a second enclosure, 
 a processing unit, 
 a serial communication controller coupled to the connector of the coupling site for communication to the console, and 
 a mass storage device coupled to the processing unit; 
 
 wherein the computer module communicates to the console through USB (Universal Serial Bus), and wherein each of the unidirectional, serial bit channels comprises a plurality of pairs of low voltage differential signal lines. 
 
     
     
       12. The computer system of  claim 11  wherein the mass storage device comprises a flash memory. 
     
     
       13. The computer system of  claim 11  wherein the mass storage device is configurable to store a password for controlling access to the computer module. 
     
     
       14. The computer system of  claim 11  wherein the computer module further comprises a computing environment for a personal user. 
     
     
       15. The computer system of  claim 11  wherein the mass storage device comprises a hard disk drive. 
     
     
       16. A computer system comprising:
 a console comprising a DVD drive, a first coupling site, and a second coupling site, each coupling site comprising a connector, the console being a first enclosure housing each coupling site, and 
 an interface controller coupled to a differential signal channel which comprises two sets of unidirectional low voltage serial bit channels which transmit encoded PCI bus transaction data in opposite directions; and 
 a computer module coupled to one of the coupling sites through the connector, comprising
 a second enclosure, 
 a processing unit, 
 a serial communication controller coupled to the connector of the coupling site for communication to the console, and 
 a mass storage device coupled to the processing unit; 
 
 wherein the computer module communicates to the console through USB (Universal Serial Bus) and wherein each of the unidirectional serial bit channels comprises a plurality of pairs of low voltage differential signal lines. 
 
     
     
       17. The computer system of  claim 16  wherein the mass storage device comprises a flash memory. 
     
     
       18. The computer system of  claim 16  wherein the mass storage device is configurable to store a password for controlling access to the computer module. 
     
     
       19. The computer system of  claim 16  wherein the computer module further comprises a computing environment for a personal user. 
     
     
       20. The computer system of  claim 16  wherein the mass storage device comprises a hard disk drive. 
     
     
       21. A computer system comprising:
 a console comprising a first coupling site and a second coupling site; each coupling site comprising a connector, the console being an enclosure housing each coupling site, a shared storage subsystem, and a plurality of computer modules; each computer module coupled to one of the coupling sites through the connector, each computer module comprising
 a processing unit, 
 a main memory coupled to the processing unit, 
 a serial communication controller coupled to the console through the connector of the coupling site, and 
 two unidirectional serial, low voltage differential signal (LVDS) channels which transmit encoded PCI bus transaction data in opposite directions, and wherein each of the computer modules operates independent of each other, and the shared storage subsystem is shared by the computer modules. 
 
 
     
     
       22. The computer system of  claim 21  wherein the shared storage subsystem is a hard disk drive. 
     
     
       23. The computer system of  claim 21  wherein the shared storage subsystem is a DVD drive. 
     
     
       24. The computer system of  claim 21  wherein each of the unidirectional serial channels comprises a plurality of pairs of low voltage differential signal lines. 
     
     
       25. The computer system of  claim 21  wherein the console further comprises a serial communication hub controller that couples to the serial communication controller in each of the computer modules through the connector of the coupling site to support communication to an external network. 
     
     
       26. A computer system comprising:
 a console comprising a first coupling site, and a second coupling site, each coupling site comprising a connector, the console being an enclosure housing each coupling site, a hard disk drive and 
 a low voltage differential signal (LVDS) channel comprises two sets of unidirectional serial bit channels which transmit data in opposite directions; and 
 a plurality of computer modules, each computer module coupled to one of the coupling sites through the connector, comprising
 a processing unit, 
 a main memory coupled to the processing unit, and 
 an Ethernet controller coupled to the connector of the coupling site for communication to an external network through the console; and 
 
 wherein each of the computer modules is similar in design to each other and operates fully independent of each other. 
 
     
     
       27. The computer system of  claim 26  wherein the data transmitted by the LVDS channel comprises encoded Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) bus transaction. 
     
     
       28. The computer system of  claim 26  wherein the console further comprises an Ethernet hub controller that couples to the Ethernet controller in each of the computer modules through the connector of the coupling site to support the communication to the external network. 
     
     
       29. The computer system of  claim 26  wherein the hard disk drive is shared by the computer modules. 
     
     
       30. The computer system of  claim 25  wherein each of the unidirectional serial channels comprises a plurality of pairs of low voltage differential signal lines. 
     
     
       31. A computer system comprising:
 a console comprising a first coupling site, and a second coupling site, each coupling site comprising a connector, the console being an enclosure housing each coupling site, a shared storage subsystem and 
 a low voltage differential signal (LVDS) channel comprises two sets of a plurality of unidirectional serial bit channels which transmit data in opposite directions; and 
 a plurality of computer modules, each computer module coupled to one of the coupling sites through the connector, comprising
 a processing unit, 
 a main memory coupled to the processing unit, and 
 a serial communication controller coupled to the connector of the coupling site for communication to an external network through the console; and 
 
 wherein each of the computer modules is similar in design to each other and operates fully independent of each other, and the shared storage subsystem is shared by the computer modules. 
 
     
     
       32. The computer system of  claim 31  wherein the data transmitted by the LVDS channel comprises encoded Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) bus transaction. 
     
     
       33. The computer system of  claim 31  wherein the console further comprises a serial communication hub controller that couples to the serial communication controller in each of the computer modules through the connector of the coupling site to support the communication to the external network. 
     
     
       34. The computer system of  claim 31  wherein the shared storage subsystem is a hard disk drive. 
     
     
       35. The computer system of  claim 31  wherein one of the computer modules comprises a core computing power and environment for a computer user. 
     
     
       36. A computer system comprising:
 a console comprising a first coupling site and a second coupling site, each coupling site comprising a connector; the console being an enclosure housing each coupling site, and 
 a low voltage differential signal (LVDS) channel comprises two sets of unidirectional multiple serial bit channels which can transmit encoded Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) bus transaction data in opposite directions; 
 a plurality of computer modules, each computer module coupled to one of the coupling sites through the connector, and comprising
 a processing unit, and 
 a main memory coupled to the processing unit, 
 
 wherein each of the computer modules can operate fully independent of each other, and wherein one of the computer modules couples to the LVDS channel for data communication. 
 
     
     
       37. The computer system of  claim 36  wherein each computer module further comprises an Ethernet controller coupled to the console through the connector of the coupling site for communication to an external network. 
     
     
       38. The computer system of  claim 36  wherein the console further comprises a hard disk drive coupled to the computer modules. 
     
     
       39. A computer system comprising:
 a console comprising a first coupling site, and a second coupling site, each coupling site comprising a connector and a slot, the console comprises a serial communication hub controller and an enclosure housing
 each coupling site, 
 the serial communication hub controller, 
 a low voltage differential signal (LVDS) channel comprises two sets of unidirectional multiple serial bit channels which transmit data in opposite directions, and 
 a plurality of computer modules; each computer module coupled to one of the coupling sites through the connector and the slot and each computer module comprising
 a processing unit, 
 a main memory coupled to the processing unit, and 
 an Ethernet controller coupled to the console for communication to an external network; 
 
 wherein each of the computer modules can operate fully independent of each other. 
 
 
     
     
       40. The computer system of  claim 39  wherein the console further comprises a shared hard disk drive that couples to the computer modules. 
     
     
       41. The computer system of  claim 39  wherein the LVDS channel in the console communicates an encoded serial bit stream of Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) bus transaction data. 
     
     
       42. A computer system comprising:
 a console comprising a first coupling site and a second coupling site; each coupling site comprising a connector, the console being an enclosure housing
 an integrated LCD display, 
 each coupling site, 
 two unidirectional multiple serial, low voltage differential signal (LVDS) channels which transmit data in opposite directions, and 
 a plurality of computer modules; each computer module coupled to one of the coupling sites through the connector, each computer module comprising
 a processing unit, 
 a main memory coupled to the processing unit, 
 a serial communication controller coupled to the connector of the coupling site for communication to an external network, and 
 a flash memory storage device coupled to the processing unit; and 
 
 wherein each of the computer modules can operate independent of each other. 
 
 
     
     
       43. The computer system of  claim 42  wherein the console further comprises a hard disk drive that couples to one of the computer modules. 
     
     
       44. The computer system of  claim 42  wherein the data transmitted by the LVDS channels comprises encoded Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) bus transaction data. 
     
     
       45. A computer system comprising:
 a console comprising a first coupling site, and a second coupling site, each coupling site comprising a connector and a slot, the console being an enclosure housing each coupling site, 
 a low voltage differential signal (LVDS) channel comprises two sets of unidirectional serial bit channels in opposite directions which can transmit an encoded data of Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) bus transaction; and 
 a plurality of computer modules; each computer module coupled to one of the coupling sites through the connector and the slot and each computer module comprising
 a processing unit, 
 a main memory coupled to the processing unit, and 
 an Ethernet controller coupled to the connector of the coupling site for communication to an external network; and 
 
 wherein one of the computer modules couples to the LVDS channel through the connector of the coupling site. 
 
     
     
       46. The computer system of  claim 45  wherein the console further comprises a hard disk drive that couples to one of the computer modules. 
     
     
       47. The computer system of  claim 45  wherein the console further houses an add-on board that communicates Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) bus transaction data through the LVDS channel in the console to one of the computer modules. 
     
     
       48. A computer system comprising:
 a console comprising a first coupling site and a second coupling site, each coupling site comprising a connector, the console being an enclosure housing the coupling sites, 
 a low voltage differential signal (LVDS) channel comprises two sets of unidirectional serial bit channels in opposite directions which transmit an encoded data of Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) bus transaction; and 
 a computer module coupled to one of the coupling sites through the connector, comprising
 a processing unit, 
 a main memory coupled to the processing unit, and 
 an interface controller that couples to the low voltage differential signal (LVDS) channel in the console through the connector of the coupling site. 
 
 
     
     
       49. The computer system of  claim 48  wherein the console further houses an add-on board that communicates Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) bus transaction data through the low voltage differential signal (LVDS) channel in the console to the computer module. 
     
     
       50. A computer system comprising:
 a console comprising a first coupling site and a second coupling site, the console being an enclosure housing each coupling site and an integrated LCD display; 
 a plurality of computer modules, each computer module coupled to one of the coupling sites, and comprising
 a processing unit, 
 a main memory coupled to the processing unit, 
 a low voltage differential signal (LVDS) channel comprises two sets of unidirectional serial bit channels which transmit encoded Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) bus transaction data in opposite directions, and 
 an interface controller coupled to a connector of the coupling site through the LVDS channel. 
 
 
     
     
       51. The computer system of  claim 50  wherein the console further comprises a serial communication hub controller to support communication between the computer modules. 
     
     
       52. The computer system of  claim 50  wherein each computer module further comprises a flash memory storage device. 
     
     
       53. A computer system comprising:
 a console comprising a power supply, a plurality of coupling sites, and an Ethernet hub controller configured to couple to an external network, each of the coupling sites comprising a connector and a slot, the coupling sites comprising a first coupling site and a second coupling site, the console being an enclosure comprising internal power and data connections to each of the coupling sites, the enclosure housing the power supply, the coupling sites, and the Ethernet hub controller; and 
 a plurality of computer modules configured to couple to respective ones of the coupling sites, each of the computer modules being an assembly comprising a main circuit board and a connector that is distinct from the main circuit board and that is configured to couple to a respective one of the connectors of the coupling sites for power and data communication, each of the computer modules comprising
 a processing unit, 
 a main memory coupled to the processing unit, and 
 an Ethernet controller configured to couple to the Ethernet hub controller through a respective one of the connectors of the coupling sites for data communication between the computer modules and to the external network, 
 
 wherein the computer modules comprise a first computer module, configured to couple to the first coupling site, and a second computer module, configured to couple to the second coupling site, the slot of the first coupling site configured to receive the first computer module and to guide the first computer module to the connector of the first coupling site, the slot of the second coupling site configured to receive the second computer module and to guide the second computer module to the connector of the second coupling site, and 
 wherein each of the computer modules is configured to operate fully independent of each other. 
 
     
     
       54. The computer system of  claim 53  wherein the Ethernet hub controller is configured to establish data communication between the computer modules and to the external network through point-to-point Ethernet links. 
     
     
       55. The computer system of  claim 53  wherein the console further comprises a storage subsystem configured as a shared storage for the computer modules. 
     
     
       56. The computer system of  claim 53  wherein the console further comprises a low voltage differential signal channel that comprises two sets of unidirectional, serial bit channels which transmit data in opposite directions. 
     
     
       57. The computer system of  claim 56  wherein each of the computer modules is configured to couple to the low voltage differential signal channel through a respective one of the connectors of the coupling sites. 
     
     
       58. The computer system of  claim 57  wherein each of the unidirectional, serial bit channels comprises a plurality of pairs of low voltage differential signal lines.